Masters of Illusion Live! tonight at the Sovereign Center

Get ready for sleight of hand, great escapes and comedy magic at Masters of Illusion Live! tonight at the Sovereign Center.

There will be a varied degree of prestidigitation in Reading. Perhaps the greatest feat is that one of the featured magicians is female.

Angela Acosta could pass for one of the beautiful magician’s assistants. In fact, she was just that for seven years before crossing over as an actual magician.

She stands out since the world of magic remains an old boys club.

“I would say that the ratio is 50 men to every female in terms of working magicians,” Acosta said while calling from Las Vegas. “It’s true. Women are trying to catch up with men in so many things and that’s very much the case in magic. The world of magic is like it is in politics.”

Acosta grew up in a show business family. Her father, Bill Acosta, is a singer/impressionist, who did the Frank Sinatra voiceover for the Radio City run of “The Frank Sinatra Story.’ Her mother, Jeanie Bavaro wrote for “The Lasting Impressions” show, which featured her husband.

“That production hit Atlantic City, Chicago and Las Vegas,” Acosta said. “I grew up backstage watching my father and mother work together. I loved it. I had no choice but to go into entertainment.”

The charismatic Acosta started as a dancer. She found work as a magician’s assistant and she now earns a living as an illusionist.

“I love going out there in front of a cage with a fire in it,” Acosta said. “I cover the cage with the fire and when I pull the curtain covering the cage, you just see my assistant, no fire.”

The person standing in the cage is not a male.

“I didn’t have to do a role reversal and work with a man,” Acosta said. “I’m just doing what I want to do. You’ll see enough guys in this show doing magic. We’re all in it together. It’s a good time. What’s more fun than magic? Children and people of all ages love it.”

Acosta isn’t about to change careers anytime soon.

“I want to learn as much as I can as an illusionist,” Acosta said. “I want to make my mark. It’s not just to be the best female magician. I just want to be the best magician I can be.”